4.
MONDAY, APRIL 6, 1981
SWD CENTRES HELP SOLVE FAMILY PROBLEMS
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AS STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN 26 FIELD UNITS LOOK AFTER 231 000 SOCIAL SECURITY CASES, THEIR COLLEAGUES IN 19 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES ARE JUST AS BUSY WITH 19 000 CASES INVOLVING FAMILY AND PERSONAL PROBLEMS.
EACH MONTH, ABOUT 1 000 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO THE IR NEAREST CENTRES DIRECTLY OR ON REFERRAL TO SEEK HELP ON VARIOUS PROBLEMS RANGING FROM CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOUR TO MARITAL BREAKDOWNS.
AND FAMILY SERVICES CASEWORKERS USE THE IR PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK KNOW-HOW AND EXPLORE WELFARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON THE GROUND TO HELP SOLVE THE IR PROBLEMS.
THEY INTERVIEW CLIENTS AT HOME OR IN OFFICE TO LOOK AT THE IR FAMILY BACKGROUND, ASSESS THE PROBLEMS AND FIND SUITABLE SOLUTIONS.
MOST OF THE PROBLEMS REQUIRING FAMILY SERVICES CONCERN BEHAVIOUR AND EMOTION OF CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS, PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP, MARITAL DISCORD, FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, OLD AGE AND DISABILITY.
OTHERS INCLUDE STRAINED IN-LAW RELATIONSHIP, EMPLOYMENT, ACCOMMODATION, ILL HEALTH, UNWED PARENTS, AND CHILDREN IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION.
THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SERVICES RANGING FROM COUNSELLING, REFERRALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INSTITUTIONAL PLACEMENTS, SCHOOLING, REHOUSING, MEDICAL CARE AND EMPLOYMENT, TO CASH ASSISTANCÉ.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT IN 1980, THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES THROUGHOUT HONG KONK CHALKED UP A RECORD OF 230 000 CASEWORK ACTIVITIES, OF WHICH HOME VISITS AND INTERVIEWS FORMED THE LARGEST BULK.
HE SAID CASES REQUIRING HELP WERE FOLLOWED THROUGH BY SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE START AND CONTACTS WERE KEPT WITH THE CLIENTS.
+APART FROM THE CONVENTIONAL ONE-TO-ONE CASEWORK APPROACH, DISCUSSIONS AND TALKS OFTEN TAKE PLACE FOR GROUPS OF CLIENTS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+MOST CLIENTS DIRECTLY APPROACH THE CENTRES FOR HELP, BUT CASEWORKERS ALSO ACT ON MEDIA REPORTS AND REACH OUT TO HARDSHIP CASES, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT FAMILY SERVICES WERE IN ESSENCE REMEDIAL WORK AND THE DEPARTMENT HAD IN RECENT YEARS ACTIVELY DEVELOPED PREVENTIVE SOCIAL WORK.
+THIS INCLUDES FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION TO FOSTER STRONG FAMILY TIES, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK TO HELP STUDENTS WITH SOCIAL PROBLEMS, AND OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, HE SAID.
PEOPLE REQUIRING HELP ON PERSONAL OR FAMILY PROBLEMS ARE WELCOME TO APPROACH THE IR NEAREST FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES OR TELEPHONE THE DEPARTMENT'S HOTLINE 3-432255.